We have all seen the "YouTube Sensations" and at one time or another, and have probably wondered how someone goes from posting videos of themselves covering other artists' songs just for fun, to having over 50,000 dedicated online fans and over 9 million views on their videos. Tyler Barham, did exactly that.

We caught up with Barham during the GrassRoots Promotions CRS kickoff dinner in Nashville and he explained that when he first started posting videos several years ago, he never imagined that it would lead him to where he is today.

In 2008 Barham was a finalist on Great American Country’s nationwide talent search, Next GAC Star. Over the next few years, Barham was featured on E!’s Opening Act, based on his YouTube following and he was the winner of nationally syndicated radio host, Radio Lia’s Your Big Break contest. He was named one of the Country Music Association’s “Who New to Watch in 2013” and was also named one of Billboard’s “10 Country Artists to Watch in 2014.”

Barham's fans include his industry peers, including, Blake Shelton, who shared Tyler’s cover of “Honey Bee” with his own fans. Brett Eldredge tweeted Tyler’s cover of “Don’t Ya” to his Twitter following. Darius Rucker and Keith Urban even began using Tyler’s cover of their songs in their live concerts.

This has been a great ride so far for a kid who just started posting videos on a YouTube channel (because he loved covering these songs) to where he finds himself today. Listen to the interview with Barham, as he discusses how much the support from fans and industry professionals alike, means to him and hear what he has coming up for the future.

It is going to be exciting to see where the journey takes him as he continues to follow a "viral" passion that has turned into the beginning of a very successful career.

Make sure you head over to Barham’s social media platforms as well as picking up copies of his music. Whether cover songs or originals, Barham is the real deal and you do not want to miss out on this great artist.

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About Laura Lou

Journalist

Beginning about age 13, music always been my “safe place”, my “escape”, it became a part of who I am. My background includes being a photographer/journalist for newspapers, magazines and radio stations and more recently I have been an artist manager. What I continue to strive to learn is, what is important to the fans/readers? I find that the answer is always that they want to feel close to the artist they are supporting. The human contact that we all need is something that I want to deliver to anyone that happens to read something I write or see a photograph I shoot. It is important to me to provide that experience, because I am, after all, still always a “fan” and that giddy 13-year-old girl is simply amazed! I never imagined that my passion and love for music would lead me where I am today! I use the hashtag #iamtheluckiestgirliknow because I cannot believe how blessed I am! I’m excited to see “what happens next” and take you all along with me! This is going to be amazing…